Shloka 39

Varṇāśrama Dharma, Ethical Virtues, and Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga Culminating in ‘Ahaṃ Brahma’

Devanagari script

अहंमनोबुद्धिमहदहङ्कारादिवर्जितम् / जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्त्यादियुक्तज्योतिस्तदीयकम्

Transliteration

ahaṃmanobuddhimahadahaṅkārādivarjitam / jāgratsvapnasuṣuptyādiyuktajyotistadīyakam

Translation

それは「我」という想い、心（マナス）、知性（ブッディ）、マハット、我慢（アハンカーラ）などを離れている。しかも、覚醒・夢・熟睡の諸状態に結びつく内なる光であり、「それ」（至上実在）に属するものである。

Word by Word

• aham-manas-buddhi-mahat-ahaṅkāra-ādi-varjitam: devoid of ego-sense, mind, intellect, mahat, ego, etc.
• aham-manas-buddhi-mahat-ahaṅkāra-ādi-varjitam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aham (सर्वनाम) + manas (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + mahat (प्रातिपदिक) + ahaṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + varjita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vṛj/varj)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘varjita’ इति क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle: ‘devoid of’); पूर्वपदसमूहः तत्पुरुषवत् (devoid of I-notion, mind, intellect, mahat, ego, etc.)

• jāgrat-svapna-suṣupti-ādi-yukta-jyotiḥ: the light connected with waking, dream, deep sleep, etc.
• jāgrat-svapna-suṣupti-ādi-yukta-jyotiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāgrat (प्रातिपदिक) + svapna (प्रातिपदिक) + suṣupti (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √yuj) + jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (the light associated with waking, dream, deep sleep, etc.)

• tadīyakam: belonging to that (i.e., its)
• tadīyakam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tadīyaka (प्रातिपदिक; from tad)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (belonging to that)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Self is free from ahaṃkāra, manas, buddhi, mahat, etc., yet is the illuminating principle connected with waking/dream/deep sleep as their witness-basis.

Vedantic Theme: Avasthā-traya-viveka and sākṣī-caitanya; disidentification from subtle body (liṅga-śarīra) constituents; pointer toward turīya as the ever-present light.

Application: Self-inquiry across states: on waking note ‘I witnessed sleep’; during thoughts note ‘thoughts are seen’; treat mind/ego as objects, rest as the seer.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.40 (nondual, awakened, free)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'inner light' (jyotis) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse identifies consciousness as the inner light that remains the witness across waking, dream, and deep sleep, even while being beyond mind, intellect, and ego.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana terms?

By distinguishing the true Self from the mind-ego complex, it points to the witness-consciousness that underlies experience—knowledge of which supports liberation rather than identification with the subtle body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice observing thoughts and ego-reactions as objects in awareness, cultivating detachment and steadiness—especially in grief, fear of death, and ritual contexts where inner clarity is essential.